Insights

What if Short Track MTB became an Olympic sport?

David Lappartient says the UCI hopes to add short track cycling to the Olympics alongside cross country.

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November 20, 2022

Short Track World Championship podium 2022: Sam Gaze, Colombo, Litscher - ©Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool

Could short track soon become an Olympic sport? It seems that the UCI, led by David Lappartient, is moving in this direction. Cycling is one of the main sports of the Games, with 22 medals across five disciplines, including road, track, mountain biking, freestyle BMX and BMX racing.

In an interview with Inside the games, Lappartient reported that the UCI is pushing to add more cycling disciplines to the Olympics, namely: flatland BMX, Team Relay and Short Track.

BMX flatland — BMX Flatland – surely if it becomes Olympic the use of a helmet would become mandatory

switzerland team relay — BMX Flatland – surely if it becomes Olympic the use of a helmet would become mandatory

“The more disciplines we have, the better it is for our sport. However, we need to find the link between size and feasibility: more disciplines require more organizers and a bigger budget. We need to be reasonable. The goal for us is first of all to maintain the five Olympic disciplines that we have: BMX racing, BMX Freestyle, Cross Country, road race and time trial. I thought about the Team Relay for mountain bikes because it might not require additional athletes who need accommodation or transportation, since the best riders are already involved in the cross country or, in the desirable, short track” – David Lappartient at Inside the Games

Pauline Ferrand Prevot Short Track World Champion 2022 – ©Bartek Wolinski / Red Bull Content Pool

E-SPORTS

And about virtual sports, what does the UCI think?

“We're thinking about it: why not have a medal for e-cycling? For Los Angeles 2028 we will understand if it is feasible” â€“ David Lappartient

Lappartient did not provide a timeline, but it's likely that any changes won't come until the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

In this article:David Lappartient, Olympics, Short Track, UCI

Written by David Finetto

famac@famac.ind.br I am passionate about everything that has 2 wheels: in my youth I practiced competitive cycling on the road and on the track with good results. At the age of 18 I moved to cross country competing at national/international level as U23. Once I passed Elite, I made the choice to take things easier from the training point of view, and that's how my love for gravity disciplines was born, training as an FCI MTB instructor and guide. Now I have made my passion my profession by managing 3 MTB centers on the island of Elba (Elba MTB), creating the FANTAmtb and telling in an ironic but professional way, everything that revolves around MTB thanks to 365mountainbike and 365TV (YouTube 'PULITI dentro BIKER fuori').